Counseling Center of the North Shore
Assured Healthcare Staffing is pleased to spotlight the Counseling Center of the North Shore as their April Community Spotlight.
What was the catalyst for founding Counseling Center of the North Shore?
The Counseling Center of the North Shore (CCNS) is a nonprofit mental health center in Winnetka, with a long history of adapting to community needs. The agency has been in continuous operation since 1893 when three local merchants formed the Winnetka Relief League to aid neighbors in need. Initially, the focus was on physical needs for food, shelter, clothing, and heating fuel. During the Great Depression, the agency hired a social worker, and the focus shifted to addressing families' emotional needs by providing mental health counseling. By the mid-1970s, the staff consisted entirely of licensed therapists with graduate degrees who provided therapy. All along the way, our companion social enterprise, the Winnetka Thrift Shop, has helped to fund services.
How do you build relationships with individuals and families that need help?
Relationship is at the center of our psychotherapy practice. Our Clinical Director Kim Hassenfeld describes our approach as "therapy of depth, insight, and relationship." Going beyond surface-level symptoms to a deeper awareness of the root causes of those symptoms, takes time and trust with your therapist. We know our method works, because in our annual surveys, 100% of CCNS clients say "they would seek help at CCNS again."
How many people have you served in the communities in which you operate?
Over the last year the Counseling Center served 246 clients through 4869 therapy hours. Another 1,100 people participated in community psycho-education events. As a way to create access to mental health services, CCNS offers a sliding scale fee for uninsured and underinsured clients starting as low as $5 per session. Also, while many clients come to us from the North Shore, CCNS welcomes clients from anywhere in Illinois.
How can we get involved?
With the Counseling Center of the North Shore, you can be a client or a supporter, and some people are both. First, if you or someone you know is thinking about therapy, then connect with CCNS through our website or give us a call. Our therapists will explore whether or not therapy is right for you at this time. Find out more at ccns.org.
Second, CCNS relies on fundraising to cover the 50% of expenses not covered by insurance reimbursements. Last year that amount was $346,000, and an important piece of the funding mix are individuals like you. CCNS has a wonderful gala coming up on Saturday, May 16th called In Full Bloom, a celebration of mental health, healing, and growth. Guests will enjoy an evening of dinner, dancing, cocktails, silent auction, and importantly come together to honor our CCNS Mental Health Champion Awardee, Meg Kissinger. Meg is an advocate, award-winning journalist, and best-selling author whose work has helped change the way we see and talk about mental illness. A proud Wilmette native, she shares a deeply personal and local voice in her acclaimed memoir of growing up in Wilmette, "While You Were Out." Event info and tickets are on Eventbrite at: https://infullbloom2026.eventbrite.com
Another great way to support CCNS is by donating and shopping at the Winnetka Thrift Shop, where 100% of the proceeds go directly to mental health services at CCNS. Located in Winnetka in the Hubbard Woods District, the Thrift Shop is open Monday through Saturday, 10:00am to 5:00pm. More info about shopping and donating at: https://www.winnetkathriftshop.org/
What is one thing you want everyone to know about Counseling Center of the North Shore?
Kim Hassenfeld, CCNS Clinical Director, gets to the heart of the matter. "If you've been thinking about seeking help, now is the time. Therapy is a powerful tool for growth and resilience, an we're here to support you every step of the way."